Stories Of The Night

Whenever I was scared at night or woke up with a fright

Mom would snuggle in bed next to me and talk about the night.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of.” she’d say in a soft and soothing tone.

“For the night is full of wonders and miracles...all its own.”

“You can see it in the stars...or in the flash of a firefly

unmistakable proof...the night has a twinkle in her eye.”

“There’s nothing quite as beautiful as a world lit by the moon

it’s the only time some animals come out...like the opossum or raccoon.”

“The nightingale and the owl fill the night with their sweet song.

And you find a rhythm in your step...as you try to sing along.”

“As you’re listening to the music if you’re lucky...you just might

see the blossoms of the moon flower...which only blooms at night.”

I’m sure Mom kept on talking...in that voice so comforting and deep

But by the time she got to moon flower I was usually fast asleep.

I stopped being afraid of the dark...and I know it wasn’t right

but for years I pretended to be scared...

just to hear her stories of the night.

We RE Not Ready To Say Goodbye

It was about a year ago...we lost a friend to suicide.

How could we let that happen? It left us mystified.

She was a poet...a troubled soul

who lived in darkness...couldn’t see the light...

And I offer her this sad reminder

of the poems she’ll never write:

Her life was filled with sadness...too much agony and strife

Then, one day with no one looking, she ended her short life.

I’m sure she didn’t realize...the instant her life was done

With her sadness finally over...ours had just begun.

She was constantly pursued by demons, when awake and when she slept.

Engulfed by friends she endured the pain...alone...she often wept.

She’s gone now, perhaps a manifestation that life is more complicated than it seems?

I only hope she sleeps in peace...no longer hounded by her dreams.

And I implore anyone who’s depressed today...

remember you have friends and family nearby....

Willing to help in any way they can...

who are not ready say goodbye.

We Just Need To Say It More

Don’t you find it interesting

in a world where hate seems to be everywhere

that, in spite of all our differences,

there’s one thing we all share?

We all have a feeling deep inside of us

that we are willing to proclaim!

And no matter how we pronounce it...

it always means the same.

In Farsi it’s ‘doset daram’.

It’s ‘Tsi ge yu i’ in Cherokee.

In Dutch it’s ‘Ik hou van jou’.

In Mandarin...’wo ai ni’.

In Morocco it’s ‘Ana jajaba bik’.

If you were in Iceleand you’d say ‘Eg elska pig’.

In Swahili ‘ninapend wewe’.

While the Swedes say ‘Jag alskar dig’.

In Spanish it’s ‘Te quiero’ or ‘Te amo’

In French it’s ‘Je t’aime’ or ‘Je t’adore’

Yes, we all have words that mean I Love You...

We just need to say them more.

God The Artist

I wonder if God is an artist.

I don’t know the reason why

but I wake up every morning...excited

to see his new painting

in the sky.

I wonder how he mixes his colors.

How he gets the yellow of the sun so bright

and on a wintry morning

how does he paint the snow...so white.

How does she make the oceans shimmer?

I’d like her to explain.

How she makes each flower so beautiful?

How doe she paint the rain?

As he sees the evening approaching

does he turn on the moon’s light

to help him see a little better

as he paints us all the night?

But then I think...I don’t need to know

the principles of what she’s designed,

I only need to marvel each day

at what her brush has left behind.

Strength or Gentleness

Wisdom was listening in one day

(She had nothing else to do)

As strength and gentleness were debating

which was the greater of the two.

“I am the greater one!” said strength.

“I am a mountain.”

“I am a tree.”

“Nothing on this planet

Is more powerful than me!”

“Silly strength, you flatter yourself.” said gentleness.

“You’re not as important as you think.”

“For gentle is the air we breathe

and the water that we drink.”

“I believe”, wisdom interrupted,

“you’re both looking at this wrong.

For it often takes strength to be gentle

and a gentleness to be strong.”

“You can debate who’s greater until the end of time

And no solution will you derive...

For you’re strongest when you act together...

you need each other to survive.”

Perhaps It's Time

Although it may be difficult sometimes

in this world I’m trying to create...

I will not acknowledge your anger with anger...

I will not return your hate...with hate.

If you choose to bully me

I will not bully back.

Nor will I cower in the face of fear

for courage...I do not lack.

I believe in human rights

the rights of everyone to be free

and I gladly lend my voice to the chorus

of peace and harmony.

Hate has tried to rule the world

from every demagogue to tsar.

When you take a look at history...

how’s that worked out so far?

So although it may be difficult sometimes

in this world I’m trying to enhance...

I will return your hate with love...

it’s the only way peace has chance!

My Favorite Foods

I can eat my favorite breakfast alone...

eggs cooked the way I’ve loved them all my life...

but breakfast always tastes a little better

when I eat...next to my wife.

I can eat my favorite lunch alone...

A Philly Cheesesteak that never ends...

but lunch always tastes a little better

when I’m eating it...with friends.

I can eat my favorite dinner alone...

A steak and potato cooked just for me...

but dinner always tastes a little better

when I eat...with my family.

I can eat cake on my birthday alone...

I can sing happy birthday...sing my name...

but without people gathered ‘round me

that cake wouldn’t taste the same.

Yes, I can eat food by myself

and I know that I will thrive

but when I eat with friends and family

I know that I’m alive.

I once thought my taste buds decided my favorite foods

but perhaps that’s just a myth...

Perhaps what makes them my favorite foods....

is who I eat them with.